Controlled Democracy and its Implications in Pakistan

A Historical Analysis

Abstract

Controlled or disciplined democracy has been a defining feature of Pakistan's political history, demonstrating a continual conflict between democratic values and non-democratic intervention. This article explores the history of Pakistan's controlled democracy, from 1947 until the military takeover in 1999. The study looks at how institutions or parts of society that aren't democratic—especially those in the military and civil bureaucracy—changed the course of politics by making things difficult for civilian governments and changing democratic processes to keep control. There is also inefficiency in politicians practicing pseudo democracy or feudal democracy. The article focuses on main governments of Ayub Khan's Basic Democracies System (B.D. System), Zia-ul-Haq's policies during the Afghan War, and Pervez Musharraf's local or large route-level democracy through local government reforms and desired election processes. It discusses how the judiciary and media, as well as legislation and political engineering, plat their role under authoritarian power under the appearance of democratic authority. Furthermore, the article looks at the sociopolitical consequences of these actions, such as a lack of political culture in political parties and an increase in poverty and backwardness in the country. This research provides a realistic understanding of Pakistan's transition to civil supremacy and the hurdles to it, as well as an awareness of the challenges that postcolonial regimes have in balancing authoritarian tendencies with democratic ideals.